Agricultural implement



Filed Aug. 15, l94l 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 14, 1945. w. G. CHARLEYAGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT Filed Aug. 15, 1941 3 Shee ts-Sheet 2 W. G.CHARLEY AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT Fil ec1 Aug. 15,1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3Patented Aug; 14, 1945 AGRICULTURAL Hull! Walter G. My, La Crescent,Minn alignmto Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Com Milwaukee, Wis, acorporation of Delaware Application August 15, 1941, sci-m No. 407,031

13Claims.

The'invention relates to agricultural machinw for field operations, suchas soil tilling, in which a tool or implement is mounted on a travelingsupport and advanced in a working position by movement of the travelingsupport. Provisions for accommodating an operator on the mentioned typeof machines usually comprise a seat on the traveling support, and if thetool, or implement is of such nature as to require observation by theoperator during progress of the machine, it is desirable that theoperator's field of vision be obstructed as little as possible by thedraft structure for the tool or implement.

' It is an object of the invention to Provide an improved implementmounting arrangement which provides for applying draft from a tractor orthe like to the implement and supporting the implement in adjustableposition with respect to the ground, and at the same time affords aclear field of vision for the tractor operator, and more thickness iskept as small as possible. 'rherwidth'ofthedraftstructureiseliminated,orsubstantance' from each other,ailording a secure mount-.

particularly an implement mounting arrange- V ment of this characterwhich'afiords substantial ground clearance so that .the machine may bevused for cultivating'standing crops of substantial height, such asknee-high com.

Another object of the inventionis to provide an improved'self-propelledagricultural machine of the type comprising a tractor, ground workingtools, a pair of relatively spaced cross-members extending laterallyfrom a portion of the tractor in advance of its rear axle structure andoperby the invention, is adapted for use on tractors,

visibility of the ground from the operators seat is substantiallyeliminated.

The improved implement mounting arrangement, as contemplated by apreferred form of the invention, is of substantial width,transversely'of its length, and it is secured to the traveling supportin a position' so as to extend, in the direction of its length,transversely of said support, and in the direction of its width in aforwardly and downwardly inclinedplane, the inclination of said planerelative to the horizontal being such that an operator Occupy g a normalupright position on the seat may view the draft structure on a line ofvision substantially coinciding with said plane. The relatively largewidth of the draft structure permits considerable stiifness 'to beincorporated therein for a given thick ness and in order to minimizeobstruction of the drlversfield of vision by the draft structure thattially eliminated, as a view obstructing factor due to the mentionedforward and downward inclination of the draft structure.

A series of brackets for transmitting draft from the draft structure toa series of implement units are preferably mounted on the inclineddrai't structure in depending positions, the brackets being spaced fromeach other longitudinally of the ing of the brackets on the draftstructure, which is not liable to yield or fall under severe operatingconditions. The forward and rearward connections may conveniently bemade by means of ordinary screw bolts, which take up very little spacein the operator's field of vision, and provisions may also be madeconveniently for adjusting the brackets longitudinally of the draftstructure. For that purpose a plurality of holes are preferably providedin the draft structure for selectively moving the bolts and bracketsfrom one position to another longitudinally of the draft structure. Inorder to double the number of possible adjustments of each bracket for agiven number of holes in the draft structure, two holes for each boltmay be provided in each bracket afiording a vernier djustment for eachbracket.

1 The inclined draft structure, as contemplated and it is a furtherobject of the invention to provide an improved adjusting mechanism forimplement units mounted on the inclined draft structure, when applied toa tractor. The improved adiusting mechanism comprises a pair of links,one pivoted above the other ona depending bracket of the draftstructure, and an actuating arm on the lower link which may be rockedfurther tendsto clear the operators field of vision.

Another object of the invention is to-provide an improved tool orimplement suspension affording. up and down movement of the tool orimplgmcntgrelative to the traveling support, and

stabilizing the tool or'implement its war position.. The improvedsuspension, as contemlated by the invention, comprises a stationaryframe member on the traveling support, a movable frame member rigidlyconnected witha support for the implement or tool, and a pair of upperand lower links connecting the movable frame member with the stationaryframe member forup and down movement relative thereto. Thestationaryframe member has a, pair of aiined hearing elements spaced fromeachother a substantial distance transversely of the traveling support, onwhich the upper link is pivotallysupported for up and down movement, butsecurely guided in a vertical plane relative to the. stationary framethe stationary frame member, has an upperpair 'of axially alined bearingelements for pivotally supporting the upper link on the movable framemember, and a lower pair of axially alined bear; ing elements forpivotally supporting the-lower link on the movable. frame member, theupper bearing elements being spaced asubstantial distance from eachother, transversely of the travel- 2 r. assaooi A an which has anelongated, relatively narrow portion"extending lon i udinally of .thetractor and terminating at the forwardend of the torque tube casing in arearw'ardlytapering bellhousing having mounting pads H at opposite sidesof the tractor. An internal combustion engine I2 i rigidly secured tothe torquev tube casing 3,'at the forward end of the bell housing, and abracket l3 secured to the forward end of the engine I2 issupporting yconnected with a pedestal l4 on which the front wheels 3 and 4 aremounted. An

operators seat at the rear of the tractor comprises a seat cushion I6supported by longitudinal frame bars l1 and ldsecured intermediate theirends to the side arms 'I' and 8 of the rear axle'structure and connectedtogether at their forward ends by a cross' bar I! mounted on-andextending transversely'of the torque tube casing 9. The'operators seatalso includes a backrest 2| which is supported onthe support for theseat cushion at a suitable distance above the seat cushion. A steeringwheel 22, within reach of an operator seated on the cushion i8 isoperatively connected with the front wheels 3 and 4 by a a steeringmechanism including a reach rod 23 at" the left side of the tractor.-The reach rod is arranged in an elevated position relative to themounting pad H at the left side of the tractor ing support, forguidingthe upper link securely" in a vertical plane relative to the movableframe element, and the lower bearing elements being likewise spaced asubstantial distance-from each other, transversely of the travelingsupport,,for

guiding-the lower link securely in a vertical plane relative to themovable frame member.

These and other objects and advantages of the.

invention will be more fully apparent from the following description ofa preferred embodiment to an operative position, the near rear wheel ofthe tractor being omitted to expose rear connections of the cultivatorwith the tractor;

Fig. 2 is atop view of the machine shown in Fig.

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the machine shown in 1;

Fig. 4 is a schematic view showing the front frame of the cultivator andassociated parts at a reduced horizontal spacing from the rear part ofthe cultivator, but at the same vertical spacing from said rear part asin Fig. 2, the schematic view illustrating the cultivator in theinoperative position to which it may be adjusted on the tractor; and

' Fig. 5-is an enlarged section on line V-V of Fig. 1. c

The tractor shown in the drawings is a tricycle type tractor havingwidely spaced rear wheels I and 2 and apair of closely spaced frontwheels 3 and 4'centra-lly ahead of the rear wheels I and 2. An upwardlyarched rear axle structure on which the rear wheels are mountedcomprises a central gear casing 6 and side arms 1 and 8 having outerhousing portions 1' and 8' depending at the outer ends of the side armsand enclosing final drive gears for the rear wheels I and 2. Secured tothe gear casing 6 at the forward side of the rear axle structure is atorque tube casand relative to the bracket |3 so'as to leave an 7unobstructed space for mounting an implement attachment on the tractorbelow the reach rod. The torque tube casing 3 and the engine l2 may beconsidered as constituting the body of the tractor, and front and rearsupports for said body are aflorded by the front steering truckincluding the pedestal I4, and by the rear assembly including thecentral gear casing G'and side arms 1 and 8 of the rear axle structureReferring to Fig. 2, a square cross-bar 24, which a will be referred toas an outrigger bar, extends transversely of the tractor below theengine l2 and is rigidly secured to the bracket |3 by a pair of hangers26, the hangersbeing detachably secured to the bracketl3 by bolts 21.

The outer end of the cross bar 24 at the left side of the tractor has atapped ho'-'-= for the reception of a cap screw 39, and the other end ofthe cross-bar 24, at the right side of the tractor, has another tappedhole for the reception of another cap screw corresponding 'to the capscrew 39. A pair of attachment frames for mounting implements atopposite sides of the tractorare generally indicated at 2B'and .29, andare, of substantially identical construction. Referring to theattachment frame 28 at the left side of the tractor, a square tubularbar 3|, to be referred to as a forward bar or front cross-bar, has aninner end, in rear of the bar 24, adjacent to the engine l2 and extendsparallel to the bar 24 beyond the outer end of the latter at the leftside of the tractor. An angle clip 31, rigidly secured to the bar 3|intermediate its ends, has a forwardly extending leg overlying theouter'end of the bar upper flange overlying the bar 24, a. lower flangeunderlying the bar 24 and a web in rear of the bar 24 is rigidly securedto the bar 3| at the inner end of the latter adjacent to the engine l2,

the upper and lower flanges of the U-clip being .spaced a suitabledistance from each other so that the U-clip may readily be slid upon thebar 3| but with slight clearance only, so that the clip provides wardbar 3| and a forward portion'of' the'Astmpll,adiacenttothe'engine|2asshown.

hil 'ig.2, hasanupperportioninrearofand aseaooi abovetheforward bar-llandalower portion 7 laterallyabuttingthemoimtingpad ll ofthetractor-towhichitissecuredbyacapscrewfl.'lheforwardendofthestrapisrigldlysecured,

as by welding, to'the inner end of the forward bar ll independently ofthe outrigger bar 24.

Another square tubular bar 32, to be referred toasarearwardbarorrearcross-bar,isrigidly secured, asby welding, to theupper portion of the strap 24, and the rearward bar 32 extends parallelto the forward bar II. The dash-dotted line 4| in Fig. 1 indicates aline of vision on "which the rearward bar 32 may be viewed by an l2, 42,as shown in Pig. 2, which extend transand are offset relative to planethrough their axes will coincide with the line 41. an angle clip :1'

corresponding to the angle clip 31, anda U-clip II, corresponding to theU-clip 1|, connect the operator occupying a normal upright position onthe seat ID, the line 4] intersecting a vertical plane through thecommon axis of the rear wheels I and 2 at a point substantially abovethe rearaxle structure of the tractor. It will be noted that the forwardbar 3| is located on the tractor at an elevation above the groundsufilcient to clear knee-high corn, and that the dash-dotted line llalso intersects the axis of the forward bar 2|. In other words, therearward bar 32 is-secured to the tractor, by means including aconnection at 2' between the lower portion of the strap or supportingelement 34 and an intermediate portion ofthe tractor between'its rearaxle structure and its forward portion which has the mentionedcantilever connection with the forward bar 3| ,.in a plane coinciding orsubstantially coinciding with the axis of the' forward bar II and with aline of vision through a point above the rear axle structure, on whichline the rearward bar 32 may be viewed by an operator occupying a normalupright pomtion on the tractor behind the bars 3| and 32. Due to thisconstruction the rear axle structure of the tractor is substantiallyeliminated from the field of. vision which the operator wants to observewhen driving the tractor, and in which fleld of vision cultivating toolsare arranged as shown in Fig. 1 and as will be described hereinbelow;and the draft frame 2! to the cross-bar 24 at the right side of thetractor, and a strap 31'', corresponding to the strap 34, is bolted tothe mounting pad H at the right side of the tractor at 38'.

A pair of plate members I, 48 extend between .the draft bars II and 32of the draft frame 28,

each plate member having a flat rearward portion underlying the draftbar 22 and a flat forward portion overlying the draft bar 3|. A hole inthe forward portion of the plate member 44 registers with one of aseries of holes 41 in the draft bar 3|, and another hole in the rearwardportion of the plate member 44 registers with one of a series of holes42 in the draft bar 22. The plate member 44 is secured to the draft bar"by a screw bolt 49 extending through the mentioned forward hole of theplate member and the registering hole in the draft bar 2|, and anotherbolt 5| exobstruction of the operator's vision by the for- In theembodiment of the invention shown inthe drawings the forward andrearward bars ll, 32 are part of a unitary attachment frame or drafttransmitting structure, at the left side of the tractor, which may bereadily installed on the tractor. Generally stated, the drafttransmitting structure comprising the forward and rearward bars ii, 32the plate member 33 and the strap 34, is of substantial widthtransversely of its length, and it is secured to the body of the tractoror traveling support in advance and independently of the rear axlestructure, and the draft transmitting structure is constructed andarranged so as to extend, in the direction of its length (correspondingto the-longitudinal direction of the bars ll, 32) transversely of thetractor body and, .in the direction of its width (corresponding to aconnecting line between the bars 3!, 22 at right angles to their axes),in a plane 'by removing the bolts 49 and ii and reinserting them intoany selected pair of holes in the draft bars 3| and 22. In order toprovide for a finer adjustment of the plate member 44 than is atfordedby the spacing of the holes 41 from each other and of the holes 48 fromeach other, the

plate member 44 may have a second hole 50 in its forward portion and asecond hole 50 in its rearward portion, the spacing of the holes at 48and 50 in the .forward portion of the plate member being shorter thanthe spacing of the holes 4'! in the draft bar 3|, and the spacing of theholes at 50" and 5| in the rearward'portion of the plate member beinglikewise shorter than the spacing of the holes 48 in the draft bar 32.The provision of the additional holes 50 and 50' in the plate member 44permits a vernier adjustment of the plate member 44 on the draft frame28.

The second plate member 48 on the draft frame 28 is, mounted in the samemanner as has just been described in connection with the plate member44. and a pair of bolts corresponding'to the bolts 49 and 5| secure theplate member 46 to the Another pair of plate members 52, 53 are ad'-.

Justably mounted on the draft frame 29 in the manner explainedhereinbefore in connection with substantially coinciding with a line ofvision the plate members ll, 4 of the draft frame 28,

'at the forward side of the bracket 54.-

the draft has 42' and' 43 having longitudinal series of holes 41' and48', respectively.

It will be noted that the platemembers on the draft frames and theirbolt connections with the draft bars take up very little spacetransversely upper draftlink 52 is an exact duplicate of the draft link5| and it is mounted on the brackets.

54 and 51 by-pivot-pins 59 and 54 which are exact duplicates of thepivot pins 58 and 53, the pins 55 and 54 bein iournaled in hardenedsteel bush- 'ings the same as the bushings 50, 80' andiE, 6'5.

' For purposes of definition, the pins 58 and 59 bers in a set of diesfor the purpose of increasin the bending strength of the plate members.A

bracket 54'is secured to the plate member 44, as shown in Fig. 1, in adepending position forwardly of the elevated 'rear end of the draftframe 28, preferably bywelding. The bracket 54 isformed by bending aplate metal blank into U-shape, as shown in Fig. 5, to provide a pair ofside flanges which are spaced from each other transverselyof the tractorand are connected by a .web portion The plate member, 45 has a dependingbracket similar to the bracket 54 between the forward and rearward draftbars 3|, 32, and each of the plate members 52, 53 also has 9. dependingbracket, correspondingflto the bracket 54, between the draft barsReferring to Rig. 1, a tool support comprises a rig beam 55 and abracket 51secured to the forward end of the rig beam 55 in an upstandingposition, preferably by welding. The bracket 51 is formed, likethebracket 54, by bendinga plate metal blank into U-shape to provide a pairof side flanges which are spaced transversely of the tractor andconnected bya web at the rear side of the bracket 51. 7

Referring to Fig. 5, a pair of hardened steel may be referred to as apair of draft pivots, and the pins 53 and 54 may be referred to as apair of coupling pivots.

The bracket 51 is thus connected with the bracket 54 for free up anddown movement relative to the latter. The upper andlower links 5|, 52are spaced a substantial distance vertically from each other, as shownin Fig. 1, and they cooperate not only to guide the bracket 51 up anddown relative to the bracket 54 but they also cooperate to stabilize thebracket 51 against tilting transversely of the vertical plane in whichthe bracket 51 moves up and down relative to the bracket 54. Thelinks'are capable of performing this stabilizing function efficientlydue to the substantial mounting of the pins 58, 55, 53, 54 on thebrackets 54 and 51 and due to the substantial vertical spacing of thelinks from each other.-;. It will also :be noted that the links GI and52 are" of. considerable length compared with the diameter of the barstock from which they are made, and if in the operation of thecultivatoran excessive lateral thrust force should act upon a tool ortools which are mounted on the rig beam 55, as explained hereinbelow,the inherent bending and torsional resiliency of the links will permitthe bracket 51 to move sidewise bracket-51, without causing a permanentdistortion of the Both links 5| and 52 are bushings and 50 are mountedin a pair of substantially alined holes in the side flanges of thebracket 54 at the lower end of the latter, the bushings having annularshoulders bearing against the outer sides of the bracket and beingsecurely held in place, preferably by fillet welds between the shouldersand the side flanges of the bracket. A lower draft link 6| is mountedbetween the side flanges of the bracket 54 by means of a hardened steelpin 58 which is journaled'in the bushings 55 and 55 and has a closerunning fit therein. The link 6| is made from a blank of round bar stockby upsetting the ends of the blank to form an eye on each end of thelink, the pin 58 being press-fitted into the eye at the forward end ofthe link, and the eye being of such thickness as to fit closely butfreely between the relatively opposed'end faces of the bushings 58 and80'.

is elastically deflectable under torsional and bend- Another pair ofhardened steel bushings 55 and 5 press-fitted into the eye at the rearend of the link 6| which closely but freely fits between the relativelyopposed end faces of the bushings 55 and 55'. An upper draft link 52(Fig. 1) connects the upper end of the bracket 51 with an upper portionof the depending bracket 54 in the same manner as has been explainedhereinbefore in connection with the lower draft link 5|. The

v bracket 51, in the raised positionof the cultimade of the same barstock, and each link is elasticallly deflectableunder torsional andbending loads transmitted-thereto at its end remote from its respectivedraft pivot. That is, the link 5| ing loads transmitted thereto at itsrear end through the coupling pivot 53 and taken up on the bracket 54 bythe draft pivot 58, and, the link 52 is elastically deflectable undertorsional and bending loads transmitted thereto at its rear end throughthe coupling pivot 54 and taken up on the bracket 54 by the draft. pivot59. Specifically, both links are similarly constructed and proportionedso as to have substantially the same deflection characteristics undersaid loads. As a result, a tool on the rig beam 55 will be normallyretained in a plane at right angles to the axes of the draft pivots 58,59, and the links 5| 52 may yield elastically, when said tool encountersan obstruction subjecting-it to exces- -..siVe thrust transversely ofsaid plane, to permit said tool to clear said obstruction.

The spacing between the pivot centers 53 and 54 on the bracket 51 is atrifle longer than the spacing between the pivot centers 58 and 59 onthe bracket 54, the purpose being to compensate for a slight backwardtilting movement of the vator, due to the very limited radial play ofthe pins 58, 59, 53 and 54 in their respective bushings. As a result,the rig beam 55 which is connected with the bracket 51 will extend in ahorizontal direction when the cultivator is adjusted to its raised orinoperative position,v a 'shown in Fig. 4.

A tool shank 56 is secured to the rig beam 55 by a clamping device 51permitting vertical ad- Justment of the tool shank 86 on the rigbeam 98,and a cultivating shovel 88 is mounted on" the lower end of the toolshank 98 in the usual manner by an adjustable connection 89 permittingpivotal adjustment of the cultivating shovel about a pivot center II tovary the suction of the cultivating shovel 88. The shovel 88 isreleasably held in its operative position on the tool shank 88 by aspring trip mechanism 12 of conventional construction. i

Secured to the lower link BI between the brackets l4 and 51 is an arm 13which extends upward draft bar 3| when swung forwardly as shown in Fig.4.

Referring toFig. 2, therig beam 58 has a forward portion extendinglongitudinally of the trac- .tor and has a bearing boss 89 in alinementwith tor and a rearward portion at an angle relative to the forwardportion, extending rearwardly and away from the tractor, the rearwardportion affording a section for mounting another cultivat- .ing shovel(not shown) in laterally offset relation to the cultivating shovel 68.Another tool support comprising a rig beam 14 is connected with thedepending bracket of the platemember 46 in the same manner as has beendescribed hereinbefore in connection with the tool support 58, 51. Therig beam 14 is similar to the rig beam 58, but angled in the oppositedirection so that the rear portion of the rig beam I4 extends rearwardlytowards the tractor. A cultivating shovel I6 is mounted onthe forwardportion of the rig beam 14 in the same manner as the cultivating shovel68 is mounted on the rig beam 56, and the tool support carrying theshovel 18 may be raised and lowered in the same manner as the toolsupport carrying the shovel 88, that is, by means of an arm 11 (Fig. 2)-secured to the lower one of the parallel links which are pivoted on thedepending bracket of the plate member 46.

Another pair of rig beams 18, I8 corresponding to the rig beams 58 andHare arranged at the other side of the tractor and connected with thedepending brackets of the plate members 52 and I 53, respectively, inthe same manner as has been described hereinbefore in connection withthe mounting of the rig beams 58 and I4 on the draft frame 28. That is,the rig beams I8, 19 may be raised and lowered by fore and aft movementof arms 8|, v82 about lower pivot centers on the brackets depending fromthe plate members 52 and 53.

Referring to the rear part of the cultivator,

the bearing boss 88 of the bracket 83. The bracket 88 extends upwardlybeyond the bearing boss 89 to provide a pivot center at 9| (Fig.

.3) corresponding to the pivot center 81 on the bracket 83. Rotatablymounted in the bearin bosses 88, 89 is a rock shaft 92 which has a rockarm 93 on its outer end at the left side of the tractor and a rock arm94 at the right side'of the.

Pivoted on the outer end of the arm 93 tractor. at 98 (Fig. 1) is a bentstrap 91 and a link 98 extends bewteen the lower end of the strap illand a bracket 99 on the tractor. The arm 93 and the link 98 cooperate toguide the strap 91 for up and down movement relative to the tractor.

The arm 94 at the right end of the rock shaft 92 extends in the samedirection as the arm 93, and another strap IOI (Fig. 3), correspondingto the strap 91, is pivoted on the arm 94 at I02 and,

connected at its lower end with a bracket I03 on the tractor by a linkI04 (Fig. 2) corresponding to the link 98. The straps 91 and IN carry atransverse beam I08 which has a pair of gusset plates I01 welded theretoadjacent to the straps 91 and IN, the gusset plates being rigidlsecured, respectively, to the straps-91 and IOI. The

" transverse beam I08 carries a pair of track eradwhich is mounted atthe rear of the tractor, a

88, corresponding to the bracket 88, is secured r I I1 on-the rock shaft92.

icating tools, I08, I09 behind the rear wheels I and 2, respectively, ofthe tractor, and a third track eradicating tool III in position toloosen the soil on the track of the front wheels 3 and 4 of the tractor.

Figs. 1 and 3 show the track eradicating tools in an operative position,and a one-way actuating mechanism is provided for raising the trackeradicating tools from their operative to inoperative position. Theone-way actuating mechanism comprises a hydraulic cylinder II2 which ispivoted on a pin II3 (Fig. 2) welded to the lower flange of the framebar I8. A plunger II4 cooperating with the'hydraulic cylinder H2 ispivotally connected at H6 to a pair of arms The hydraulic cylinder 2 isconnected by a. hose II8 with a pump mechanism H9 mounted at the rearofthe tractor and operable by the engine I2. The pump mechanism H9 isattached to a power take-ofi' housing I20'enclosing suitable drivemechanism for the pump. A control mechanism, not shown,-

is incorporated in the pump mechanism, which permits, first, delivery ofpressure fluid from the pump into the cylinder II2 to cause movement ofthe plunger II4 from the position inwhich it is shown in Figs. 1 and 2,to the position shown in Fig. 4, the latter position being reached by afull powerstroke of the plunger 4; second, to stop delivery of pressurefluid to the cylinder II2 upon completion of the power stroke of theplunger H4, and at the same timeto lock or entrap the pressure fluid inthe cylinder II2, which prevents return movementof the plunger from theposition in which it is shown in Fig. 4

to the position in which it is shown in Figs. 1

and 2; and third, to release the entrapped fluid in the cylinder II2,which permits return movement of the plunger 4 from the position in.

to the frame bar I8 at the right side of the r c- 78 fluid into thecylinder 2 causes the plunger II4 to rotate the rock shaft .92 in ananticlockwise direction with reference to, Fig. 1. Such anticlockwiserotation of the rock shaft causes the arms 93, 94 to lift the transversebeam I98 imtil the plunger I I4 reaches the end of its travel,

whereupon the control mechanism may be operated to stop delivery ofpressure fiuid to the cylinder II2 and to entrap the pressure iiuid inthe cylinder so as to hold the transverse beam I98 in its elevatedposition. Fig. 4 shows the position to which the arm 93 of the rockshaft 92 will be moved by a full stroke of the plunger H4, and thecorresponding lifted position of the transverse beam I96, the transversebeam I96 being moved into said position by simultaneous upward movementof the arms 83 and 94.

The bracket 83 at the left side of the tractor has an upwardly extendingportion affording a pivot center 81, as has been stated hereinbefore,

and swingable on the pivot center 81 is a hand lever comprising a handlebar I2! and a crossbar I22 which is welded to the handle bar HI. andpivoted to the bracket 83 at the pivot center for the rig beam 14.

movable at its'rear end on the shoulder pin I49.-

7 lug I64 on the rod ISI, as shown in Fig. 2.

81. A latch I23 is pivoted on the free end of the cross bar I22, and anotched segment I24 engageable by the latch I23 is secured in a fixedposition on the bearing boss 86 of the bracket 83. The latch I23 is heldby a suitable spring (not shown) in engagement with the notched segmentI24. and may be released manually by means of a grip lever I26 which ispivoted on the handle bar I2I, at I21, and connected with the latch I23by a heavy wire I 28. Pivoted on. the rear end of the handle bar I2I ata pivot center I29 is a first link I3I which has a second pivot centerI32 at a distance from the pivot center I29 equal to the spacing of thepivot center I29 from the pivot center 81. Pivotally connected with thefirst link I3I at the pivot center I32 is a. second link I33 which has apivotal connection with the arm 93 at a, pivot center [34. Referring toFig. 3, it will be seen that the second link I33 has a relatively longarm adjacent to the arm 93 of the rock shaft 92 and a shorter armadjacent to a second arm 'I36 of the rock shaft 92,

a pin extending through the arms 93 and I36 of the rock shaft andthrough the arms of the second link I33, affording the pivotalconnection I34. Another pin extending through both arms of the link I33afiords the pivot center I32 on which the first link l3l is connectedwith. the secondlink I33.

The outer arm of the second link I33 extends arm 13 on the lower draftlink 6| by means of a pivot'pin I43. Referring again to the second linkI33 at the rear end of the cultivator, a rearwardly and upwardlyextending bracket arm I44 is rigidlysecured to the second link I33, anda coil spring I46 is hooked at one end into an eye at the upper end-ofthe bracket arm I44. The other end of the spring I46 has a chainconnection I41 with a lug I 48 on the tubular rod Pivoted on the pin I38is another shoulder pin I49 (Fig. 2) corresponding to the shoulder pinI31, and a second tubular rod I5I is telescopically beyond the pivotcenter I32, and a shoulder pin The tool supports at the right side ofthe tractor comprising the rig beams 18, 19 are operativeiyconnected'with therock shaft 92 by a mechanism which is a duplicate ofthe mechanism at the left side of the tractor, which has been describedhereinbefore, the mechanism at the right side, however, being arrangedopposite hand relative to the mechanism at the left side;

as may be seen from Figs. 2 and 3. The mechanism at the right side ofthe tractor comprises a handle bar I58'corresponding to the handle barI2I, the handle bar I58 being swingable about the mentioned pivot center9I on the bracket 93 at the right side of the tractor and operativelyconnected with the rock shaft 92 by a first link I51 and second linkI58, corresponding to the first link I3I and second link I33. A pair oftubular rods I69, I6I are pivotally and slidably connected with thesecond link I58 at the right side of the tractor by means of shoulderpins I82, I63 corresponding to the shoulder pins I91 and I49. Eye-boltsI64, I66 adjustably connect the rods I59, I6I with the arms 8|, 82 ofthe lower draft links for the rig beams 18 and 19. A spring I61 ishooked, at its rear end, into a bracket I68 (Fig, 3) on the second linkI58 at the right side of the tractor, and a pair of chains I69, "Iconnect the spring I61 withlugs I12, I13 on the rods I59, I6I,respectively.

It will be noted that the rod I39 and eye bolt I42 constitute areciprocable member which is sustained on a rearward portion of thetractor in an elevated position relative to the draft frame 28, the"rear end of the rod I 39 being sustained on the link I33 by means of theshoulder pin I31, and the link I33, as shown in Fig. 1, being restrainedfrom swinging movement about its pivotal connection I34 with the rockarm 93 by the link I3I and hand lever I2I, I22 which is to aninoperative position, as indicated in Fig.

4. During the mentioned upward swinging movement of the rock arm 99 thepivot point at I34 travels on an are about the axis of the rock shaft92, and the pivot point at I32 travels on an are about the pivot centerI29, and the link I 33 moves from the position shown in Fig. 1 to thatshown in Fig. 4. The pivotcenter I38 on the link I33 is thereby moved ona path of predetermined curvature causing the mentioned forward push,upon the reciprocable member I39, I 42.

The rod I5I and eye bolt I52 (see Fig. 2) are similarly pushed forwardlyby upward swinging order to. hold the forward and rearward impleor thetractor is raised from its operative to an inoperative positionsimultaneously with the outer forward implement unit at the left sideofthe tractor. The inner and outer forward implement units at the rightside of the tractor, are raised by forward movement of the rods I59 andIII which are connected with the rearward rock arm 94 in the same manneras has been explained hereinbefore in connection with the rock arm 93and rods I39, III. Both rock arms 93 and 94 are rigidly secured to theshaft 92, as

stated, and the inner and'outer forward .implement units at the rightside of the tractor will therefore be raised simultaneously with theinner and outer forward implement units at the left side of tractor byadmission of pressure fluid into the cylinder I I2.

In the raised position to which the forward implement units are moved bya full power stroke of the plunger II4 the upper and lower draft linksof all forward implement units assume the position illustrated in Fig. 4for the lower and upper draft links 3| and s2, and in which position theupper links extend substantially parallel to the forwardly anddownwardly inclined plane coinciding with the line 4|, in which planethe draft frames 28 and 29extend, as has been explained hereinbefore.provided under the draft frames 28 and '29 to permit the upper links toassume the mentioned Suflicient clearance is positions substantiallyparallel to the draft j ected to a rearwardpush in the raised positionof the implement due to the weight of the forward implement unitsconnected with said rods. The

rearward push acting upon the rods I39 and I5I in the raised position ofthe cultivator, due to the weight of the forward implement .units at theleft side of the tractor, is transmitted in part through the second linkI33 to the rock arm 93, and in part through the second link I33, thefirst link I3I, handle bar I2I and cross-bar I22 to the.

pivot center 81 on the bracket 93 which is fixed onthe tractor.Similarly, the rearward push acting upon the rods I59 and IBI in theraised position of the cultivator, due to the weight of the forwardimplement units at the right side of 1 the tractor, is transmittedinpart through the second link I58 to the rock arm 94, and in part throughthe link I51, handle bar I59 and its crossarm to the bracket 39 on thetractor. The weight components of the forward implement units at theleft and right sides of the tractor, which are transmitted-to the rockshaft 92 through the links I33 and I53 in the raised position of thecultivator tend to rotate the rock shaft 92 in a clockwise direction asviewed in Fig. 4, and the weight of the rearward implement unitcomprising the transverse beam I95 and track e'radicating tools I98,I99, III also tendsto rotate the rock shaft 92 in clockwise direction asviewed a in Fig.4.

I The weight of all forward implement units and the weight of the entirerear implement unit will therefore cooperate to produce a torque uponthe rock shaft 92 in a clockwise direction, as

viewed in Fig. 1, which torque will become eflecence to the drawings, itshould be understood that tive to rotate the rock shaft, upon release"of the.

ment units in their inoperative position. The

clockwise rotation of the rock shaft 921111.001. tinue until a crankscrew I14 which is motmted in a'bracket I19 on one of the arms IIfofftherock shaft engages'a fixed abutment on the right frame bar I9 on thetractor. Y

The reciprocable member I39, I42 connected with the arm I3, and theother reciprocable members comprising the rods I5I, I59, I9I and eyebolts I52, I94 and I59 are thus moved rearwardly upon release of thepressure fluid which is entrapped in the cylinder H2 in order to holdall forward implement units and therearward implement unit in theirraised positions.

Referring again to Fig. 1, it will be noted that the reciprocable memberI39, I42 may also be moved back and forth by adjustment of the handlever I2I, I22 about the pivot center 91, while the rock arm 93 is inthe position shown in Fig. 1. When the hand lever is moved downwardlyfrom the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1 the link I33 is swungrearwardly about the pivot center I34 and as a result rearward pull istransmitted to the rod I39 through the spring I49 and chain I41. On theother hand, when the hand lever IZI, I22 is moved upwardly from theposition in ,which it is shownin Fig. 1, the link I33 is swung forwardlyabout the pivot center I34 and as a result forward push is transmittedto the rod I39 through the shoulder pin I31. The forward outer implementunit at theleft side of the tractor may thus be adjusted up and down bymanipulation of the hand lever I 2I, I22, while the rock arm 93 is inits implement lowered position, and it will be noted that the depth ofsoil penetration of the track eradicating tools I99, I99 and III is notaffected by adjustment of the hand lever.

When the hand lever I2I, I22 is moved upwardly from the position inwhich it is shown in Fig. 1, forward push isalso transmitted tov thereciprocable member comprising the rod I5I and eye bolt I52, and theinner forward implement unitat the left side of the tractor willtherefore be raised simultaneously with the adjacent outer implementunit by said upward movement of the hand lever. Similarly, when the handlever is swung downwardly, the resulting rearwardpull on the spring I49is transmitted to the rod I5I through the chain I53. 7

The hand lever I56 at the right side of, the tractor may be manipulatedto move the rods I59 and I9I back and forth for lowering and raising theinner and outer forward implement units at the right side of thetractor, and the explanations given hereinbefore with reference to thehand lever I2I, I22 similarly apply to the hand lever I59.

Features of the implement raising and lowering mechanism at the rear endof the tractor herein disclosed but not claimed are claimed in adivisional application Serial Number 472,671, filed January 18, 1943,now Patent No. 2,350,588, issued June 6, 1944, and also in a copendingapplication Serial Number 407,032,' filed August 15, 1941 by W. G.Charley and A. G. Buhr for Agricultural m'achine, now Patent No.2,350,587, issued June 6, 1944.

While in the foregoing a preferred embodiment V of the invention. hasbeen described with referit is not intended'to limit'the invention tothe exact details of construction herein shown and described for variousmodifications within the scope ture in a depending position remote fromthe ele- .vated end of the latter, a tool support, means connecting saidtool support with said bracket for up and down movement of said toolsupport relative to said draft transmitting structure, said meansincluding a link underlying said draft transmitting structure andswingable vertically about a pivot center on said bracket; and means forraising and lowering said tool support comprising an arm secured to saidlink, and a lengthwise reciprocable elongated member extending undersaid elevated end of said draft transmitting structure and pivotallyconnected with said arm.

2. In an agricultural implement, a traveling support, a drafttransmitting structure of substantial width transversely of its lengthsecured tively opposed forward and rearward bars in a common planeadapted to extend, in their longitudinal directionstransversely of saidtractor, detachableconnecting means securing said draft frame on saidtractor in a position in which said common plane of said bars isforwardly and downwardly inclined at such an angle as to, coincidesubstantially with a line of vision on which an operator occupying anormal upright position on said tractor in rear of said draft frame mayview said rearward bar, a plurality of plate members each having fiatforward and rearward portions secured, respectively, to said bars,brackets secured, respectively, to said plate members in dependingpositions between said bars, and ground eng in tools arranged to bedrawn, respectively, by said brackets.

5. In combination with a tractor, a unitary implement draft framecomprising a pair of relatively opposed forward and rearward bars in acommon plane adapted to extend, in their longitudinal directionstransversely of said tractor, de-

tachable connecting means securing said draftframe on said tractor in aposition in which said common plane of said bars is forwardly anddownwardly inclined at such an angle as to coincide substantially with aline of vision on which to said traveling support so as to extendIin theY direction of its length, transversely of said traveling support and,in the direction of its width, at

Y anacute angle relative to the ground level, a

transmitting structure and pivotally secured to said bracket and toolsupport to guide the latter for up and down movement relative to saiddraft transmitting structure, and means for raising and lowering saidtool support comprising an arm secured to and extending upwardly fromthe lower one ofsaid links, and a lengthwise reciprocable elongatedmember extending under said elevated end of said draft transmittingstructure and pivotally connected with said arm.

3. In an agricultural implement, a traveling pport. a draft'transmittingstructure of substantial width transversely of its length secured tosaid traveling'support so as to extend, in the direction of its length,transversely of said traveling support and, in the direction of itswidth, in an acute angle position relative to the ground level, abracket secured to said draft transmitting structure in a dependingposition remote from the elevated end of the latter, a tool support, afirst link underlying said draft transmitting struc- .ture pivotallysecured to said tool support and to and extending upwardly from saidsecond link,

and a lengthwise reciprocable elongated member extending under saidelevated end of said draft transmitting structure and pivotallyconnected with said arm.

4. In combination with a tractor, a unitary implement draft framecomprising a pair of relaan operator occupying a normal upright positionon said tractor in rear of said draft frame may view said rearward bar,a plurality of plate members each having a fiat rearward portionunderlying said rearward bar and. a flat forward portion overlying thesaid forward bar, bolts extendingvthrough' said bars, respectively, andthrough said-relatively flat forward and rearward portions of said platemembers for securing the latter on said draft frame; brackets secured,respectively, to said plate members in depending positions between saidbars, and ground engaging tools arranged to be drawn, respectively, bysaid brackets.

6. In combination with a tractor, a unitary implement draft framecomprising a pair of rela- -.tively opposed forward and rearward bars ina common plane adapted to extend, in their longitudinal directionstransversely of said tractor, detachable connecting means securing saiddraft frame on said tractor in a position in which said common plane ofsaid bars is forwardly and downwardly inclined at such an angle as tocoincide substantially with a line of vision on which an operatoroccupying a normal upright position on said tractor rearwardly of saiddraft frame may view said rearward-bar, a plurality of plate membersextending transversely of'said bars and each having a pair of bolt holesone adjacent to a longitudinal series of bolt holes in said forward barand the other adjacent to a longitudinal series of bolt holes in saidrearward bar, screw bolts selectively insertible into the bolt holes ofsaid bars and passing through said plate members, for securing saidplate members at various spacings from each other to said draft frame,brackets secured, respectively, to said plate members in dependingpositions between said bars, and ground engaging tools arranged to bedrawn, respectively, by said brackets.

7. In combination with a tractor, an implement draft frame ofsubstantial width transversely of its length'secured to a forwardportion of said tractor so as to extend, in the direction of its length,transversely of said tractor and, in the direction of its width, in aforwardly and downwardly inclined plane,.a ground engaging tool, a Q

, draft frame in a depending position forwardly of the elevated rear endof the latter, a pair of vertically spaced links underlying said draftframe and pivotally secured to said bracket and tool support for guidingthe latter to different levels vertically relative to said draft frame;and raising and lowering means for said tool support comprising an armsecured to one of said links, a reciprocable member sustained on arearward portion of the tractor in an elevated position relative to saiddraft frame and extending forwardly and downwardly under said draftframe, said member being operatively connected, at its forward end, withsaid arm, for raising and lowering said tool support by lengthwisemovement of said member, and means for reciprocating said member.

8. In an agricultural machine,'a traveling support, a ground engagingtool, and a twin link suspension for said tool comprising, a stationarychannel shaped bracket on said traveling support, afirst pair of axiallyalined bushings mounted in opposite side flanges of said stationarybracket at an upper portion thereof, and a second pair of axially alinedbushings mounted in said side flanges of said stationary bracket at alower portion thereof, a movable support for'said tool including asecond channel shaped bracket, 9, third pair of axially alined bushingsmounted in opposite side flanges of said second bracket at an upperportion thereof, a fourth pair of axially alined bushings mounted insaid opposite side flanges of said second bracket at a lower portionthereof, an upper link, Journals rigidly connected with said upper linkat one end thereof and rotatably mounted in said first pair of bushingsat opposite sides of said upper link; journals rig-.

idly connected with said upper link at the other end thereof androtatably mounted in said third pair of bushings, at opposite sides ofsaid upper link, a lower link, journals rigidly connected with saidlower link at one end thereof and rotatably mounted in said second pairof bushings, at opposite sides of said lower link, and journals rigidlyof bushings at opposite sides of said lower link.

9. In combination with a tractor having a rear axle structure, a pair ofcross bars secured, one rearwardly of and above the other, to saidtractor forwardly and independently of said rear axle structure, so asto extend transversely of said tractor in a' common plane, thehorizontal and vertical spacings of said bars being such that saidcommon plane thereof substantially coincides with a line of visionthrough a point above said rear axle structure, on which said one barmay be. viewed by an operator occupying a normal upright position onsaid tractor rearwardly of said bars, and implement supporting meansmounted on said bars.

- said tractor in advance and independently of said connected with saidlower link at the other end thereof and rotatably mounted in said fourthpair 10. In an agricultural implement, a vehicle/ body, means includinga rear axle structure supporting said body, and tool attaching meanscomprising a draft transmitting structure of substandownwardly inclinedplane substantially coinciding with a line of vision through a pointabove said rear axle structure, on which line said draft transmittingstructure may be viewed by an operator occupying a normal uprightposition on said vehicle rearwardly of said drafttransmitting structure.

11. In combination with a tractor having a rear axle structure, a frontcross bar having acantilever connection with said tractor at a forwardportion thereof, a supporting element having an upper portion in rear ofand above said front cross bar and a lower portion adapted to engage anintermediate portion of said tractor between said forward portionthereof and said rear axle structure, a rear cross bar secured to saidupper portion of said supporting element, means including a connectionbetween said lower portion a of said supporting element and saidintermediate portion of said tractor for securing said rear cross bar tosaid tractor in a. plane substantially coinciding with the axis of saidfront cross bar and with a line of vision through a point, above saidrear axle structure, on which said rear cross bar may be viewed by anoperator occupying a normal upright position on said tractor behind saidbars, and implement supporting means mounted on said front and rearcross bars for adjustment transversely of said tractor.

12. In combination with a tractor having a rear axle structure, anattachment frame of substan tial width transversely of its length,secured to rear axle structure and constructed and arranged so as toextend, in the direction of its length, transversely of said tractorand, in the direction of its width, in a forwardly and downwardlyinclined plane substantially coinciding with a line of vision through apoint above said rear axle structure, on which line said frame may beviewed by an operator occupying a normal upright position on saidtractor rearwardly of said frame, a bracket structure secured to saidframe having a-depending portion below said plane, and upper and lowerimplement draft links pivoted on said 1 depending portion of'saidbracket structure.

13. In combination with a tractor having a rear axle structure and anoutrigger bar mounted on a forward portion thereof, a front cross bardetachably supported on said outrigger bar, a supporting element securedto said front cross bar independently of said outrigge barand having aportion detschably secured to an intermediate portion of said tractorbetween said forward portion thereof and said rear axle structure, arear cross bar secured to said supporting element rearwardly of andabove said front cross bar in a plane substantially coinciding with theaxis of said front cross bar and with a line of vision through a pointabove said rear axle structure, on which said rear cross bar may beviewed by an operator occupying a normal upright position on saidtractor behind said cross bars, and implement supporting means mountedon said front and rear cross bars.

WALTER G. CHARLEY.

